Apparatus for cutting and handling block-line articles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for cutting articles by measuring one dimension of the article and cutting the article into a plurality of separate parts, each of which has a dimension which is proportional to the dimension measured. Apparatus for cutting and handling articles having a platform with means for advancing the articles onto the platform. Dies engage the article on the platform to cut parts of predetermined shapes from the article. Means is provided for ejecting the articles from the dies and then for rotating the articles for cutting additional parts from the article.

United States Patent 11 1 Comstock et al.

[ June 19, 1973 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND HANDLING BLOCK-LINE ARTICLES [75] Inventors: Alfred E. Comstock, Frontenac,

Minn.; Burdsal Gardner Wilcox, Oakland, Calif.

[73} Assignee: Safeway Stores Incorporated, Oakland, Calif.

[22] Filed: June 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 157,747

Related US. Application Data [60] Continuation of Ser. No. 36,718, May 13, 1970, abandoned, which is a division of Ser. No. 780,009, Nov. 29, 1968, which is a division of Ser. No. 402,746, Oct. 9, 1964.

[52] US. Cl. 83/102, 83/124, 83/267,

[51] Int. Cl 826d 3/24, B26d 7/06, B26d 7/18 [58] Field of Search 146/155,158,160,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,178 9/1950 Zeprun 83/124 2,256,927 9/1941 Pittman...v 83/102 2,487,271 11/1949 Petri 146/160 X 2,547,118 4/1951 Hart i 83/124 X 2,692,430 10/1954 Kraft et a1...v 146/169 X 3,137,188 6/1964 Domka 83/124 Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie Azt0rneyFlehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for cutting articles by measuring one dimension of the article and cutting the article into a plurality of separate parts, each of which has a dimension which is proportional to the dimension measured.

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1. In apparatus for cutting and handling articles, a standard, a framework rotatably mounted on said standard, a plurality of frames mounted on said framework, a plurality of dies carried by each of said frames, a platform, means for advancing one of the articles onto the platform, means for causing step by step rotational movement of the framework on the standard so that each of the frames is moved in succession into alignment with an article on the platform, means for causing relative movement between the article on the platform and the dies of the frame in alignment therewith so that the dies cut parts of predetermined shapes from the article, means for causing the parts cut from the article to be ejected from the dies in a region spaced from the platform, means for receiving the parts ejected from the dies, and means for causing remnants of the article to be ejected from around the dies in a region spaced from the platform and a region spaced from the region in which the parts are ejected.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each of said frames includes a plurality of posts depending from said framework, a lower plate secured to the lower ends of said posts, said dies being secured to said lower plate and depending therefrom, an upper plate slidably mounted on said rods and disposed above said lower plate, means yieldably urging said upper plate into a position spaced above said lower plate, and wherein said means for causing the parts cut from the article to be ejected from the dies consists of product push-out members disposed in the dies, means for supporting the product push-out members from the upper plate, and means for causing downward movement of the upper plate and the product push-out members to cause the parts to be ejected from the dies.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for causing remnants of the articles to be ejected from around the die consists of a plurality of blocks and means for securing the blocks to the upper plate, and means for moving the upper plate downwardly with respect to the lower plate to cause the blocks to be moved downwardly to eject remnants of the articles from around the dies.
 4. In apparatus for cutting and handling articles, a standard, a framework rotatably mounted on said standard, a plurality of frames mounted on said framework, each frame including a lower plate, a plurality of dies carried by each of said frames, a platform, means for advancing one of the articles onto the platform, means for causing step by step rotational movement of the framework on the standard so that each of the frames is moved in succession into alignment with an article on the platform, means for causing relative movement between the article on the platform and the dies of the frame alignment therewith so that the dies cut parts of predetermined shapes from the article, means for causing the parts cut from the article to be ejected from the dies in a region spaced from the platform, means for receiving the parts ejected from the dies, means for causing remnants of the article to be ejected from around the dies in a region spaced from the platform and a region spaced from the region in which the parts are ejected, and movable means for retaining remnants mounted on the lower plate during the time that the parts are being ejected from the dies.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for retaining remnants includes a plurality of spaced fingers, means for loosely mounting said fingers on the plates, and means for yieldably urging the fingers into engagement with the dies to hold remnants of the article to the dies.
 6. In apparatus for cutting and handling articles, a platform for receiving articles and means for advancing the articles one by one onto the platform, a framework, a plurality of frames mounted on said framework, each of said frames carrying a plurality of dies, means for causing said frames to move through first, second and third positions, means for causing relative movement between the article carried on the platform and the dies carried in one of the frames when said one frame is in the first position for causing the dies to cut parts of predetermined configurations from the article, means causing the parts cut from the article to be ejected from the dies in the second position of the frame, means for receiving the parts ejected from the dies, and means for causing any remnants of the article to be ejected from around the dies in the third position of the frame.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said framework includes a vertical standard, step by step rotating means mounted on the standard, and means mounted on the standard and connecting the step by step rotating means to the frame.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said means for causing relative movement consists of means for moving the platform with the article thereon into engagement with the dies carried by the frame in the first position and for moving the platform away from the dies and into a position for receiving another article from the means for advancing articles onto the platform.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the means for causing the parts cut from the article to be ejected from the dies in the frame in the second position and the means for causing any remnants of the article to be ejected from around the dies in the third position of the frame include means mounted on the standard and adapted to engage the frame to cause the parts cut from the dies to be ejected from the die and separate means mounted on the standard and adapted to engage the frame to cause remnants of the article to be ejected from around the dies.
 10. In apparatus for cutting and handling articles having a predetermined configuration, a frame, a plurality of dies carried by said frame, each of said dies being of a size substantially less than the article and having a configuration different from the article, means for advancing the articles one by one toward the frame, means for causing relative movement between the frame and each article so as to cause the dies to cut parts having the configuration of the dies from each article and so that the parts which are cut are ejected from the dies, conveying means for receiving the parts ejected from the dies and for advancing the same away from said dies, said dies causing remnants to be formed when the parts are formed, means for causing said remnants to be discharged from said dies to a region separate from and out of register with the conveying means for said parts ,and means for collecting said remnants. 